What's the call

I had 2 situation this weekend that came up. Playing Utrip

1. Twice during the game the other team had a slapper up. With 2 strikes she took a step up and squared to bunt and fouled it off. The second time she didn't even move and just squared. Both times she fouled it off. I asked PU and he said it's not a bunt because she is a slapper. BU actually said he would have argued, but couldn't overturn the call. From what I understand even if you are a slapper, if you make no swing attempt it's a bunt?

2. Our hitter hits one to RF and RF attempts to throw her out at 1st but throw is off line and our batter collides with 1B about 4 feet from 1B. Ball rolls all the way around to 3B side. I asked for Obstuction but was told it was incidental contact. He then said that even if it was obstruction she didn't make an attempt to go to second to which I said she would have if she hadn't had to get 1B off of her. This one I am more inclined to agree

1: Pretty much covered in the other thread on bunting. It is either an attempt to hit the ball or it is a bunt. If the batter is making no attempt to actually strike the ball but is trying to tap it slowly in the infield, it is a bunt regardless of if the batter is a slapper or not. Also not sure why the other umpire was discussing the situation with you on a call made by the other umpire.

2: There are only 2 times a defensive player can block a runner and not be guilty of obstruction and those would be a fielder attempting to field a batted ball, and if they are actually in possession of the ball. F3 was neither fielding batted ball nor were they in possession of the ball, that would be obstruction if they hindered the progress of the runner. Also, no attempt has to be made in order to be awarded a base or bases on obstruction. But, obstruction is never an automatic base award, it is simply to correct anything the defense may have cost the offense. If 1st base was all the runner would have gotten on the overthrow, then there would be no base award even with an obstruction call.

Comp, I'll ask the same question that I asked in that other thread:

On a judgement call (like whether it's a bunt or a swing), if an umpire cites some kind of non-rule-based meme as the reason for the decision, does that now bring a coach's appeal back into play? In this case, when the umpire makes an inaccurate statement like "it's not a bunt because she is a slapper", essentially citing a non-existent rule, is an appeal possible? Or is this just all noise, since it's a judgement call, nothing said by coaches, PU, BU, matter, simply decision made, move on?

I answered in the other thread. Yes, if the umpires "judgement" is based on some bogus rule he is quoting of course it would still be subject to protest. An umpire claiming something as being a judgement call does not automatically make it non protestable if that judgement is based on something that either is not a rule or a missapplication of a rule.

Just don't be to quick to protest and make sure you know the parameters ahead of time...especially if it involves money.

You fork over your money fill out the form and the umpire writes "in my judgement she attempted to swing at the ball"...regardless of all the BS he said during the discussion you are screwed.

Comp
on the op #2, I'm reading the contact was between home and first, so even if throw is coming from RF it pulled 1st into base path just like say throw from SS could. Would they both be incedential. I'm not questioning you for argument but for understanding correct call.

The defense has no rights to block a runner on a thrown ball. Obstruction is clearly defined, a defender not in possession of the ball, or fielding a batted ball may not impede a runner. In the play, F3 was neither in possession nor fielding a batted ball. Regardless of where the ball was coming from, the defense cannot impede the progress of a runner without physically having the ball or fielding a batted ball.

OK so if thrown ball pulls defender into path of runner without possession, then it will always be obstruction and runner could be awarded next base if ump thinks they would been safe. The reason I asked and now know better was all bang bang plays usually at first with throws pulling defender into base path, I've seen no calls. I've even seen ball loose staying close it becomes a matter of who gets to first, first.

Comp second question!, is there any rule using the word incidental ?

Wow!...........